VANCOUVER – Lynn Valley Care
Centre, a new campus of care in North Vancouver, will provide 14 new assisted
living units and 50 replacement residential care beds for seniors. The official
opening was celebrated today.

“Seniors in our province, and our
community, are asking for more choice in their housing and care options,” said
the Honourable George Abbott, Minister of Health. “Lynn Valley Care Centre
provides seniors the choice of staying in the community as their care needs
change, to help maintain quality of life.”

The Assisted Living House at the
Lynn Valley Care Centre is one of many new assisted living homes developed
under the Independent Living BC program, providing a middle option for seniors
who can no longer live independently, but do not want or need 24-hour
residential care. These 14 new assisted living suites in North Vancouver will
provide affordable alternatives for low-to-moderate income seniors.

“The Province is committed to the Pacific Leadership Agenda which means
working with our partners to ensure seniors have access to safe, affordable
housing in their own communities,” said North Vancouver-Lonsdale MLA Katherine
Whittred. “Lynn Valley Care Centre is a reflection of that commitment.”

“Seniors enjoy a better quality of life when their loved ones, family
members and friends can remain on the same site, even if their levels of care
are different,” added North Vancouver-Seymour MLA Daniel Jarvis. “This newly
renovated facility of care will make that possible – and affordable – with
options ranging from assisted living to more complex care.”

Lynn Valley Care Centre also
includes two floors containing 50 residential care beds called Lynn Valley
Manor. A second phase of the building is currently under construction, which
will be connected to the Lynn Valley Care Centre through a walkway on each
floor, providing 15 additional assisted living units and 12 additional
residential care beds. The campus of care is owned and operated by North Shore
Private Hospital, which operates another building on the same site. Lynn Valley
Lodge includes 89 funded and three private-pay complex care beds,which will be attached to the second phase of the
Lynn Valley Care Centre.Upon completion of the
second phase of Lynn Valley Care Centre, the entire campus of care will provide
183 beds for seniors.

Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) is
providing ongoing funding for the personal care services and hospitality
services to ensure that tenants have access to the healthcare services they
need to remain independent. In addition to their own private units, assisted
living residents receive hospitality and personal care services, such as meals,
housekeeping and laundry services, recreational opportunities, assistance with
medications, and other care needs, including a 24-hour response system.

“The goal of a campus of care is to
promote greater independence and support long-term care needs,” said Mary
Ackenhusen, chief operating officer, VCH. “We are committed to improving access
to care in all the communities we serve, and to offering seniors options to
help them age in place.”

“The opening of the first phase of
the Lynn Valley Care Centre campus of care marks the beginning of greater
access to all levels of residential care and affordable seniors housing in our
community,” said North Shore Private Hospital administrator Mehdi Sherkat. “The
campus of care meets a long standing need for many of our North Shore seniors
and we are gratified to see this become a reality.”